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How to get more bangs for your professional development bucks!

18/2/2014

On 1 January 2014, the NSW Institute of Teachers merged with the Board of Studies NSW and formed the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES).
BOSTES now has responsibility for standards in curriculum, student assessment and teacher quality.
The BOSTES website contains a wealth of helpful information for teachers seeking professional accreditation.
The article, 5 tips for completing professional development requirements for Proficient Teacher accreditation, highlights the value of monitoring your accreditation account.

Read 5 tips for accreditation
Teacher accreditation

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2014 Premier’s Kingold Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship

18/2/2014

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As a result of the generous support of the Kingold Investment Group Companies applications are invited for the Premier’s Kingold Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship.
All teachers currently teaching Chinese language in NSW schools and TAFE NSW Institutes are eligible to apply. The award is for a study tour in any aspect of Chinese Language Education relevant to the NSW curriculum.
It is anticipated that the successful applicant would spend 5 weeks involved in the study program visiting China. In certain circumstances travel to other places besides the Peoples Republic of China could be considered. Teachers from NSW government schools and TAFE NSW Institutes will be entitled to leave and the school /institute will be entitledto relief. Teachers from non-government NSW schools will need to negotiate
leave with their employing authority. The recipient’s itinerary must be organised to complete their travel by 30 June 2015.

Please contact the Premier's Teachers Scholarship Secretariat prior to submitting your application as a 300 word Chinese Characters written language component must be included. The Secretariat will also be able to assist applicants with networking opportunities and advise on appropriate personnel to be contacted for planning your study tour.
One scholarship of $15,000 will be awarded in 2014.

Click for more information and the application forms.

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Farewell from Elisabeth

7/2/2014

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Hi everyone,
After almost 13 years with the Languages team, I am moving into
a new position with the Department, as a Curriculum Advisor in the Educational Services team.
It has been an honour and a privilege to work with so many dedicated and talented languages teachers over the years, and I will miss your collegiality, professionalism and sense of fun (and the catering at Italian and Spanish workshops!!).
Thank you for always making me feel welcome in your classrooms, staffrooms and at your professional learning events. I wish you all
the very best for the future, and hope our paths cross again soon.
Warm regards,
Elisabeth

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2014 Modern Languages Teachers' Association of NSW Annual Conference

5/2/2014

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The theme of this year's MLTA NSW annual conference is 'Creative Collaboration'. The conference will be held at the Waterview Function Centre at Sydney Olympic Park on Friday 7 March. Visit the MLTA website for more information including registration and membership: http://mltansw.afmlta.asn.au/events-2/conference/

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Community Languages Induction Program (CLIP)

5/2/2014

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The Community Language Induction Program (CLIP) provides teachers with opportunities to develop skills in planning, implementing and evaluating effective Community Language Programs in primary schools.
The program is a four full day face-to-face workshop and an eight-week school based component involving a workshadowing experience.
The face-to-face workshops will take place as follows:
Phase 1
Thursday 3 & Friday 4 April 2014
Phase 2
Thursday 29 May & Friday 30 May 2014

Information flyer
File Size:	142 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Application form
File Size:	192 kb
File Type:	doc

Download File

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Duolingo

4/2/2014

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Duolingo is a free, online, game-based language learning site which offers a range of features which could be useful for language teachers and students. Duolingo has recently launched a range of apps which offer Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and German language courses which allow students to practice their skills on the run. The languages courses are organised sequentially and incorporate talking, listening, reading and writing components.
The program works its way through the usual topics such as greetings, food, animals, jobs, family, travel, hobbies, clothing, colors and so on. The format engages students by incorporating aspects of gaming including losing lives and earning rewards. Duolingo includes frequent review of the concepts and vocabulary covered and provides immediate feedback as students progress through the levels.
Of course an online course does not replace a teacher or a responsive classroom context, nor does it offer the authentic communicative opportunities that are neccessary to achieve fluency. However, you might find it a useful adjunct to your teaching program or a fun way of reinforcing knowledge and practicing skills.
Another interesting area you may like to explore is the Duolingo blog. Each week blog readers are challenged to provide definitons for 'tricky words' which tend to defy literal translation. Native speakers contribute translations on the Duloingo facebook page and the most popular translation is posted on the official blog. The spanish word 'empalagar' which is shown below was the most popular of the 365 responses posted online.

The illustration above represents the winning translation of the Spanish word 'empalagar' on the Duolingo blog.http://blog.duolingo.com/post/63744768594/empalagar-as-defined-by-our-spanish-speaking

if you have used this program or have any insights or criticisms to offer, it would be great if you would share your thoughts!
Please leave a comment for us below

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How to get more bangs for your professional development bucks!

2014 Premier’s Kingold Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship

Farewell from Elisabeth

2014 Modern Languages Teachers' Association of NSW Annual Conference

Community Languages Induction Program (CLIP)

Duolingo

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